I’m guessing that the “Silent Majority” also works in Sports, much like it elected President Trump in 2016.
The Bucs-Saints game was a rating treasure chest, despite a nationwide divide in how the NFL was handling their social justice movement.
From SportsMediaWatch.com:
–“The Week 1 NFL national window (Buccaneers-Saints in 91% of markets) averaged a 16.2 overnight rating on FOX, up 2% from last year (mostly Giants-Cowboys: 15.9), up 3% from 2018 (mostly Cowboys-Panthers: 15.7) and the highest Week 1 NFL overnight since the same window in 2016 (mostly Giants-Cowboys: 16.9).
The 16.2 is tied as the fifth-highest for the NFL national window — in any week of the season — since 2016.”–
Both Florida and Louisiana went for Trump in 2016. How did this happen? As someone who can’t see the value of a symbolic move that has angered your fans (clients), I offer two theories:
1: People had to see it to believe it! Would there really be a mass protest, differing anthems, teams locking down in their locker rooms during a period of honoring our country. People just had to see it for themselves.
2: Americans love the game of football more than they hate the business of The NFL! Sure, it sounded right to say “I won’t watch”, but as you’re on the couch, the beer is cold, the wings are spicy…. maybe people decided to not allow the opinions of others to become their reality.
American Football is just that. American. Total team sport that incorporates everything needed to tell a great story. I think many people realized that they aren’t hurting the NFL by not watching, just like they aren’t r helping the NFL while watching. The only exception is that if you’re participating in a Nielsen Ratings panel, or you watch exclusively on certain apps which collects consumption analytics.
I‘ve seen growing amplifications to boycott NFL sponsors and merchandise, as opposed to abandoning a game that so many truly love. Remember, there’s a difference in Sport VS League.
And so, just as so many people tipped their hand to voting for Hillary Clinton in 2016, then changed their mind inside the privacy of the ballot box, it seems that many did the same on Sunday, in the privacy of their homes.
Marc Jason
